Posted by AlCheez on 8/20/2013 9:44:00 AM (view original):Nice call - criticize the homer pick then make one of your own.

I make no qualms about picking Baltimore as a homer, but I do really think they have a better team than they had last year. I believe the defense will be a lot better and I fully expect the offense to get better as they get more comfortable in Caldwell's system. Going back to back is incredibly difficult, but I think Baltimore is a better team while much of the top tier AFC has gotten worse. Denver's defense will take a step back and they still have no running game. New England will likely take a step back, though with Brady I fully expect them to once again have the best record in part because I expect them to go 5-1 or 6-0 in the AFC East. Houston has a QB that chokes and Foster still hasn't made an appearance this year. Indianapolis was a bit of a fluke last year and with a much more difficult schedule and second year blues, expect them to drop back into the 7/8 win range. Cincinnati is the only team that made the playoffs last year, aside from Baltimore, that I can say with confidence made significant strides forward. I expect Miami and Kansas City to be a lot better, but not realistically contend. So for me, I went with Baltimore, and yes it was a homer pick.

Posted by AlCheez on 8/20/2013 9:44:00 AM (view original):Nice call - criticize the homer pick then make one of your own.

I make no qualms about picking Baltimore as a homer, but I do really think they have a better team than they had last year. I believe the defense will be a lot better and I fully expect the offense to get better as they get more comfortable in Caldwell's system. Going back to back is incredibly difficult, but I think Baltimore is a better team while much of the top tier AFC has gotten worse. Denver's defense will take a step back and they still have no running game. New England will likely take a step back, though with Brady I fully expect them to once again have the best record in part because I expect them to go 5-1 or 6-0 in the AFC East. Houston has a QB that chokes and Foster still hasn't made an appearance this year. Indianapolis was a bit of a fluke last year and with a much more difficult schedule and second year blues, expect them to drop back into the 7/8 win range. Cincinnati is the only team that made the playoffs last year, aside from Baltimore, that I can say with confidence made significant strides forward. I expect Miami and Kansas City to be a lot better, but not realistically contend. So for me, I went with Baltimore, and yes it was a homer pick.

Well, at least you were willing to double down on it with a bunch of homer analysis. I salute you, sir.

Posted by stinenavy on 8/20/2013 8:31:00 PM (view original):moranis is in for a rude awakening. Who the hell is Flacco going to be throwing to? Torrey Smith and Jacoby Jones. Good luck with that.

Just out of curiosity which group of receivers would you rather be throwing to:

Smith, Jones, Dickson, Clark, Shiancoe, Stokley, Thompson, Doss

Johnson, Martin, Daniels, Graham, Martin, Posey, Jean

Amendola, Edelman, Fells, Sudfeld, Aiken, Slater, Boyce

Green, Sanu, Gresham, Eifert, Jones, Tate

Wayne, Heward-Bey, Allen, Fleener, Brazill, Hilton

Sure Denver has a great set of receivers, but they are the only top tier AFC team that even goes 3 deep and even their TE's are of a lesser quality and they have a way less than average running game. And I'm not saying Baltimore has the best receiving core of those teams, merely that they are in the same general area as them. Trading Boldin and then losing Pitta to injury were certainly blows, but they will be fine overall.

Posted by stinenavy on 8/20/2013 8:31:00 PM (view original):moranis is in for a rude awakening. Who the hell is Flacco going to be throwing to? Torrey Smith and Jacoby Jones. Good luck with that.

Just out of curiosity which group of receivers would you rather be throwing to:

Smith, Jones, Dickson, Clark, Shiancoe, Stokley, Thompson, Doss

Johnson, Martin, Daniels, Graham, Martin, Posey, Jean

Amendola, Edelman, Fells, Sudfeld, Aiken, Slater, Boyce

Green, Sanu, Gresham, Eifert, Jones, Tate

Wayne, Heward-Bey, Allen, Fleener, Brazill, Hilton

Sure Denver has a great set of receivers, but they are the only top tier AFC team that even goes 3 deep and even their TE's are of a lesser quality and they have a way less than average running game. And I'm not saying Baltimore has the best receiving core of those teams, merely that they are in the same general area as them. Trading Boldin and then losing Pitta to injury were certainly blows, but they will be fine overall.

The Pats.

Amendola will put up Welker type numbers. Thompkins and Dobson have performed very well. Sudfeld has shown the ability to be a big time difference maker in the redzone. Once gronk gets back, having Sudfeld (6'7") and Gronk (6'6") and pair them with Dola (5'10") and Dobson (6'3"), that's a match-up nightmare.